Turner Sports Cars   2012 Crickhowell Turner Rally


 
The Turner Rally
Sunday June 24th 2012
The Manor Hotel, Crickhowell, South Wales


June proved to be one of the wettest on record here in the UK but thankfully the weather eased off for our UK Turner Rally on June 24th which turned out to be a bright and sunny day in the Brecon Beacons once the morning showers had cleared. The weather did not dampen the spirits of the Turner faithful who attended in good numbers and assembled in the lower car park of the Manor Hotel which was to host our annual gathering for a 26th year, and in attendance for the 26th consecutive year was Ron Taylor in his light green Turner Ford 220 WMA joined by his wife Liz for the journey down from Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Ken Robbins and Brian Shaw travelled down from Shropshire and Wolverhampton in convoy, Ken driving his light blue 950S 9 NPC and Brian Shaw his red Turner Ford GOK 444D. Brian's attendance in his Turner lends a great thanks to fellow Turner owner John Cullis who was recently spent time in his Wolverhampton workshop with Brian replacing the rear axle assembly and the rear suspension bushes to make the car reliable again having been blighted in the past by broken half shafts due to a damaged casing. David and Pauline Valsler travelled from Reading in David's immaculate MK3 Sports Speciale YRD 518C which always draws a crowd with its stunning finish in white with a blue stripe, John Butcher travelled over from Essex with his white MK1 to represent the Coventry Climax powered Turners ,

Nigel and Jane Taylor joined us from Milton Keynes with the British racing green MK1 700 AOV which was looking well polished and maintained, while our chairman and newsletter editor Derek Bentley and Anna Hill both travelled over from Sussex via Middlesex braving torrential rain on the M5 en route in the light blue MK1 2 RTD to be with us on the day , Nigel Taylor , Derek and Anna all used the journey for reliability checks prior to embarking on the return journey to France for the Le Mans Classic during July and I hope that is all the wet weather driving 2 RTD and 700 AOV will have to entertain for this year.

I attended in 1118 RE my red 950s, this was the first appearance of the car at Crickhowell since the restoration was completed last year and I travelled in convoy from Bristol with my father Terry who attended in his bright yellow MK1 231 YYC.
All together 9 Turner Sports Cars were in attendance which given the weather in the build up was an excellent number , and with a number of apologies for absence received it gives encouragement for greater numbers next year if the British summertime finally arrives with us for then!. Other visitors on the day included former registrar Dave Scott and Turner owners Ralph Charles, Chris Burnell, John Cullis.

The day once again provided a nice opportunity for all assembled to look over the cars and share experiences , Chris Burnell had the opportunity to drive a Turner for the first time in many years as he sat behind the wheel of Derek Bentley's MK1 which judging by his smile will help encourage progress with the rebuild of his own long time owned Turner MK2 172 WFK , and whilst having originally built the inner steel body tub for my own Turner as well as having a hand in sorting many obstacles during my own Turner rebuild , Nigel Taylor finally had the opportunity to drive and enjoy the finished car , as did Ken Robbins as we compared notes behind the wheel of each others 950S models.

On the morning of the Rally I was delighted to receive contact from Ron Jones aka 'Taffy' who like Ken Robbins was a former employee of Turner Sports Cars at Pendeford Airport during the 60s. Ron and Ken have since renewed acquaintances and Ron will be visiting us at the Black Country Vehicle Rally on July 31st to share his experiences and recollections and see some Turners for the first time in many years.

The Turner rally was a very enjoyable day in an excellent setting and with the window of sunshine that we had on the day I am sure Jack Turner must have been smiling down on all assembled at The Manor.

Next years gathering at Crickhowell is provisonally set for Sunday June 16th 2013.

Russell Filby.

Follow the link below to the photo gallery.